What's installed on your SearXNG server?
- SearXNG, version 2026.11.2, set to Turkish by default and changeable in its preferences
- Password protection: the login is yonetici, Turkish for admin, and the browser asks for it in a pop-up
- JSON output on: /search?q=example&format=json returns results
- Image proxy on, so images load through your server
- Metrics collection off
- HTTPS through Caddy at an sslip.io address; firewall with only ports 22, 80 and 443 open
What size do you need for SearXNG?
SearXNG's documentation gives no RAM figure. As a rule of thumb, 1 GB is a good start for personal or small-group use, and 2 GB makes sense if automations will search often. SearXNG keeps no index of its own and gathers results from other engines, so it needs little disk, and it runs no AI model, so no graphics card is involved. If you need more, raise the RAM and CPU on the Size tab of your panel. If you need less, you can scale down at the end of the billing period.
| Use | Size | Price | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 GB RAM · 1 vCore · 25 GB NVMe | $2.58/mo | |
| Medium | 2 GB RAM · 1 vCore · 40 GB NVMe | $4.01/mo | |
| Powerful | 4 GB RAM · 2 vCore · 60 GB NVMe | $6.89/mo |
Who is it for?
- People who don't want their searches turned into a profile
- Families or small teams setting up one shared search address
- Developers looking for a search source for AI agents and automations
- Anyone who wants to run the default search engine in their browser themselves
What happens after you order?
- Set the size and complete your payment.
- Your server starts and SearXNG installs itself. This took about 3.5 minutes in our real-server tests.
- Open your server from My servers in the panel, and click Open app on the Overview tab.
- Enter the details from the Login and Password rows into the browser's pop-up. The login is yonetici.
- To make it your default search engine, add https://your-address/search?q=%s to your browser.
With every server
- Daily backups included in the price
- Unlimited traffic
- Full root access
- Scale RAM and CPU up or down later, and grow the disk
- Location: Istanbul · IST-1.
Good to know
- Your searches reach other engines from your server's IP address. Send too many and an engine may ask for a CAPTCHA or block the IP, and you'll get fewer results.
- The rate limiter is off because the site sits behind a password. If you remove the password and open it to everyone, expect bot traffic, and set up the limiter and Valkey first.
- Automations have to pass the password too, so send the login and password with HTTP basic authentication.
- Safe search starts off. Turn it on in the preferences if children will use it.
- Results aren't tailored to you. SearXNG builds no profile, so don't expect the personal results you may be used to.
- SearXNG stays on the version it was installed with. As search engines change, some may stop returning results, and updating is your responsibility.
SearXNG questions and answers
What is SearXNG and how does it work?
SearXNG is a metasearch engine. It sends your query to other search services, collects the results and shows them on one page. It doesn't track users or build profiles, and on your own server the logging settings are in your hands as well.
How much RAM does SearXNG need?
There's no official figure. As a rule of thumb, 1 GB is a good start for personal use, and 2 GB makes sense if automations search often. If that falls short, grow the RAM from your panel. The server restarts once and your address stays the same.
How do I make SearXNG my default search engine?
Add https://your-address/search?q=%s in your browser's search engine settings. SearXNG supports OpenSearch, so some browsers offer the address by themselves. The browser asks for the login and password on your first search.
Can I use SearXNG as a search source for my AI agent?
Yes. JSON output is on, so your agent can call /search?q=query&format=json and send the login and password with HTTP basic authentication. Very frequent requests can lead search engines to block your server's IP.
Why does SearXNG ask for a password?
An open search engine attracts bots, and that traffic can get your server's IP blocked by search engines. So the site is password-protected from the start. The login is yonetici and the password is in your panel, and you can change this setup with root access.
Why are SearXNG results sometimes missing?
If an engine has shown your server's IP a CAPTCHA or blocked it, that engine returns nothing. The official docs explain how to solve the CAPTCHA from the server's IP through an SSH tunnel. You can also turn on other engines in the preferences.